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Bacchante with lowered eyes

1872
Not on view
Commissioned by the architect Charles Garnier for the facade of the Paris Opéra, Carpeaux's monumental decorative sculpture La Danse was unveiled on July 26, 1869. The figural group, consisting of a slim central youth shaking a tambourine, with a putto at his feet and encircled by six joyously dancing bacchantes, quickly became the talk of Paris for its frank sensuality and unidealized female nudes. Nearly as shocking was the act of vandalism to which the sculpture was subjected when, during the night of August 27, 1869, a bottle of ink was hurled at it, staining the left front bacchante. Despite its controversial reception, La Danse (now in the Musée d'Orsay, Paris) is regarded by many as the artist's masterpiece.

Although unused in the end, this terracotta bust of a maiden with vine leaves twined in her hair was one of Carpeaux's studies for the final work. Carpeaux probably modeled this version with the intent of replicating it in an edition of cast terracottas.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bacchante with lowered eyes
  • Artist: Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (French, Valenciennes 1827–1875 Courbevoie)
  • Date: 1872
  • Culture: French, Paris
  • Medium: Terracotta
  • Dimensions: Overall (with base): 16 1/2 × 9 × 8 in. (41.9 × 22.9 × 20.3 cm);
    Height (without base): 14 in. (35.6 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1911
  • Object Number: 11.10
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

More Artwork

More Artwork
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Boy crying, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux French, Cast terracotta, French, Paris
Boy crying
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
1870–72
Model for the Watteau Fountain, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux French, Patinated plaster, French
Model for the Watteau Fountain
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
ca. 1867–68
Study for the Ugolino Group, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux French, Graphite
Study for the Ugolino Group
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
19th century
Bacchante with vine leaves, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux French, Terracotta; marble base, French
Bacchante with vine leaves
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
ca. 1872–75
Scene in a Tavern at Civita Vecchia, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux French, Pen and black ink on blue paper
Scene in a Tavern at Civita Vecchia
Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux
1858

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